At least 60 Russian paratroopers have reportedly staged a mutiny and refused to fight in
Ukraine.
The ‘elite unit’ was from a key airbase in Pskov, northern
Russia.
When they refused to fight the troops are understood to have been withdrawn to Belarus, from where they were then sent back to Pskov in disgrace.
Most of the unit has been fired, while others are facing criminal charges, the Pskovskaya Guberniya, an independent newspaper in Pskov has reported.
Those facing criminal charges will be subject to
the Russian equivalent of a court-martial and will most likely be handed jail sentences.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu is reported to have sent one of his deputies to Pskov to handle the insubordination.
Ukraine has claimed the 60 or so troops were elite paratroopers but this has not been independently verified.
The servicemen are however understood to have hailed from Pskov, a key base for one of Russia’s most elite airborne units.